Acetylene-gas generator.



PA'iBNTED DBO. 31. 1901.

' T. P. LITTLE.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1901.

gTATES PATEN T OFFICE.

THOMAS F. LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

Application filed September '7, 190"]- Scrial No 391-796.

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construe tion in an acetylene gas generator, the object being to provide a device of this charac ter which is very simple and durable in construction, and safe and eflicient in operation, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figurel is a plan section of a generator constiucted in accordance with my invention. Fig. -2- is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1-. Fig. 3- is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of the lower end of a blow-off passage employed.

My said invention has for its particular ob ject, to provide an acetylene gas generator which may be made in any desired size and for any desired capacity from a small portable apparatus suitable for all purposes for which portable illuminating apparatus 1s adapted, to generators of large capacity for the illumination of large buildings, or groups of buildings.

The invention resides more particularly in the details of construction whereby impor tant advantages over existing apparatus of this character are gained, as will be pointed out in the following speciiicatioi'i.

My said-apparatus comprises the casing A of any suitable shape having a false bottom B below which is a chamber C. The upper portion of said casing is provided with a central cylindrical compartment D open at its upper end, and connected at said end with a surrounding horizontal partition wall E disposed below the upper wall F of said. casing A. The latter is provided with a central opening concentric with and of considerably larger diameter than the said compartment D. In the space surrounding the cylindrical wall of said compartment D, there are disposed two vertical partition walls G dividing said space into two compartments H and I, the larger compartment H constituting the water reservoir and communicating at its upper end with the screw-capped tube J and at its lower end with the compartment D through a plurality of openings K. The compartment I is filled with a fibrous material such as hair and communicates at its lower end with the compartment (1 through the opening l; and at its upper end with the gas outlet tube M.

A standpipe N establishes communication between the upper ends of the chambers and D, the latter receiving the carbid bucket 0 having a concavo-convex bottom P and supported on legs Q, said bucket being of smaller diameter than said compartment and providing an annular space R between the wall thereof and said bucket in which said stand-pipe N is disposed. Said carbid bucketlis provided between its ends with a bead S indicating the maximum level of the carbid to be contained, and above said bead are one or more perforations Tthrough which Water is admitted to said bucket, the admitted water dripping upon the apex of the inverted V-shaped trough U secured to the inner face of the wall of said bucket and being thereby divided and caused to drip upon the carbidat two points from each perforation,

two of which disposed at diametrically opposite points are preferably provided. Entering said compartment D is a cylinder Y open at its lower end and having a hollow tapercd cap W communicating with the lower end of said cylinder through the pipe or passage X provided in its lower end with an inverted V-shaped recess. At adiametrically opposite point said cap Vt communicates with a vent Y. -Pivotall v mounted on the upper wall F, are a plurality of latches Z which are adapted to enga 'e the edge portions of the upper wall of sai cap N to prevent the same from rising. if desired. The said cylinder Y constitutes the gasometer and receives the stand-pipe hr.

The operation of my generator is .as follows: The cylinder V- and carbid bucket are removed, and the latter filled with carbid to thedesired level. Said bucket and cylinderare then replaced and water is then introduced into the compartment H to till the same about three quarters full. The gas outlet tube ll being connected with the service pipes, the outlets from which are closed, thc water entering chamber D and flowing underneath the lower end of the cylinder Y into the annular space between the latter and the bucket, cannot rise. in id space beyond the upper end of the ii-shaped recess ipe X and, therefore. cannot reach 'ations T. 5 so u, however, as an the service p 4; opened, the wa- Yie in said last named annular space, the displaced air passing through the standp pe X into compartment t" and thence through the purifier chamber 1 into the service pipes. As the water reaches said perforations T and tlows through the latter upon the carbid, the gas generated will create pressurc'in the carbid bucket O and cylinder V and force the level of the water down, the generated gas following the course of the displaced air as previously described. As the generated gas is gradually consumed. the water level rises, as is again generated, and

this operation repeats so long as an outlet for the is open.

it, for example, a number of outlets have been continuously supplied by the generator for a considerable period and all of said outlets are suddenly closed, the water held by the residue of consumed carbid will cause generation of gas to continue for some time and such gas having no outlet gradually forces the water level in the cylinder Y to recede until it falls below the upper end of the ti-shaped recess in the pipe X through which the then passes into the said cap W and tlience through the vent Y. This action also occurs in the event that at any time an excess of water finds its way to the carbid and. causes excessive generation. Some water is usually carried into the cap N by the carbid, but the escape of the latter through the vent Y is prevented by the relative positions of said vent and said pipe X.

i prefer to locl: the cylinder Y in. its lower most position by means of said latches Z but this is not essential as said cylinder may be left loose and allowed to rise and fall, thus acting as a gasometer in an obvious manner.

To drain the water lI'OIlI the apparatus, I provide a drain pipe D communicating wit' the lower end of the cylinder D, said drain pipe being lllfilnit-llilcCl sealed by means of a cap in a well known manner. 'lliespaoe be tween the walls and F also serves to rcceive any water which may be thrown up through the annular space surrounding the cylinder V by reason of any excess of gas generated suddenly, such water being prevented from leaving the apparatus by its de lection due to striking the tapered wall of the cap if.

Thecom nirtmen ll may be partly filled with water through the stand-pipe N, such water serving to cool the gas passing through said compartment.

lily said generation very compact, and operates very cllicientlv besides being safe and economical.

I claim as my invention:

1. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a central compartment open at its upper end, a chamber in lower end central compartment through a stand pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said central compartment and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the latter, a purifier chamber communicating withsaid lower compartment and with the service pipes, ahorizontal partition wall in said casing closing the upper end of the water chamber and the purifier chamber, a carbid bucket open at its upper end disposed in said central compartment, a cylinder open. at. its lower end entering said central compartment and receiving said. carbid bucket and der communicating with the lower end of the latter, and a vent communicating with said chamber.

2. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a central compartment open at its upper end, a chamber in lower end communicating with the upper end of said central compartment through a stand pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said central compartn'ient and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the latter, a purilier chamber communicating with said lower compartmentand with the service pipes, a horizontal partition wall in said casing, closing the upper end of the water chamber and the purifier chamber, a carbid bucket open at its upper end disposed in said central compartment, a cylinder open at. its lower end entering said central oompartment and receiving said carbid bucket and said stand pipe, a chamber above said cylinder communicating with the lower end of the latter, and a vent communicating with said chamber at a'point substantially diametrically opposite the point of communication of said chamber with the said lower end of said cylinder.

3. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a central compartment open at its upper end, a chamber in lower end communicating with the upper end of said central compartment throng a stand pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said central compartment and communicating at its: lower end with the lower end of the latter, a purifier chamber communicating withsaid lower compartment and with the service pipes, a horizontal partition wall in said casing closing the upper end of the water chamber and the purifier chamber, a carbid bucket open at its upper end disposed. in said central compartment, and provided which water is admitted, inverted V-shaped troughs disposed in the path of the admitted lwater to divide and distribute the same to communicating with the upper end of said between its ends with perforations through.

said stand pipe, a chamber above said cylinchamber. and the purifier chamber, and diseraero said central compartment through a stand 1 pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said central compartment and communicating 'at its lower end with the lower end or the latter, a purifier chamber communicating with said lower compartment and with the service pipes, a horizontal partition wall in said casing closing the upper end of the water chamberand the purifier chamber, a carbid bucket open at its upper end disposed in said central compartment, a tapered chamber above said cylinder of larger diameter at its upper than at its lower end, and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of. said cylinder, and a vent communicating at its lower end with the lower. end of said cylinder, and-a vent communicatingwith said'chamber at its. upper end.

5. An acetylene gas generator comprisinga casing having a central compartment open communicating with the upper end of said central compartment through a stand pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said central compartment and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the latter, a purifier chamber communicating with said.lower compartment and with the service pipes, a horizontal partition wall in said casing closing the upper end of the water posed below the upper wall of the casing, the said upper wall of the latter being provided with a central opening or larger area than the said -central compartment, a carbid bucket open at its upper end disposed in said central compartment, a cylinder open at its lower end entering said central compartment and receiving said carbid bucket 1 and said stand pipe, a chamber above said cylinder communicating with the lower end of the latter, and a vent communicating-with said chamber, a tapered chamber above said cvlinder orlar er diameter at its u er V c P than at its lower end, and communicating at its lower end with said cylinder, and event communicating with said chamber at its upper end, the upper end or said tapered chamber fitting said central opening in the upper wall or said casing.

6. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a central compartment open at its upper end, a chamber in lower end communicating with the upper end of said central compartment through a stand pipe, a water chamber partly surrounding said. central compartment and communicating at its lower end with the lower end. of the latter, a purifier chamber communicating with said lower compartment andwith the service pipes, a horizontal partition wall in said casing closing the upper end of the water chamber and the purifier chamber, and disposed below the upper wall of the casing,

the said upper wall or the latter being provided with a central opening of larger. area than the said central compartment, a car bid bucket open at its upper end disposed in said central compartment, acylinder open at its lower end entering said central compartment and receiving said carbid bucket and said stand pipe, a tapered chamber above said cylinder communicating with the lower end of the latter, and a vent communicating with said chamber, the upper end or said tapered chamber fitting said central opening in the upper wall of said casing, and locking means disposed on said upper wall and adapted to engage said ca to hold said cylinder at the lower limit or its movement;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in'the presence of two subscribing witnesses T HOMAS F. LITTLE.

\Yitnesses:

RUDOLPH 'WM. Lorz, E. L. Moons. 

